A research study of climate changes and local preparedness in the ... - ReliefWeb

A research study of climate changes and local preparedness in the districts of (Al-Ma’afer - Al-Shamayatain) - Taiz Governorate - Yemen - Yemen | ReliefWeb

Executive summary

Climate changes and their effects are clearly visible in Yemen, and their indicators include drought, changes in temperature, floods, pests and disease outbreaks, changes in precipitation patterns, an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms, and a rise in sea levels. These changes and their effects pose a threat to the country's natural systems and communities that depend on natural resources .

The districts of Al-Ma’afer and Al-Shamayatain (inhabited by 393,426 people) are among the most affected areas, with high levels of food insecurity and livelihoods, as about 60% of the population of these districts classified in the fourth and third stages of food insecurity, according to the Integrated Phase Classification of Food Insecurity in Taiz-Yemen In February 2022. The almost 8-years conflict has displaced large numbers of people, destroyed infrastructure, deteriorated the economy and destroyed livelihoods. In addition, the districts of Al-Ma’afer and Al-Shamayatain host about 70,000 displaced people who fled from conflict areas in Taiz, Al-Hudaydah and other governorates, which led to a decline in the ability of the host communities to absorb due to competition over local resources. The high prices of cooking gas, overgrazing, and the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, in addition to the scarcity of water, have caused agricultural crop production to drop by about 50% compared to previous years. On the other hand, the increase in rainfall Heavy rains and floods at a certain time of the year lead to erosion of agricultural lands, destruction of livelihood resources such as loss of livestock, as well as damage to IDP camps and IDPs losing their food and assets.

The study aimed to identify the effects of climate changes on food security, agriculture and livelihoods in the targeted areas, and to determine the local readiness to mitigate these effects. Including the reasons, impacts, solutions, intervention mechanisms and including mechanisms of early warning system, climate smart resilience livelihoods model, feasible climate smart agriculture/food production (adaptation) and preparedness and mitigation) on climate smart and disaster preparedness and mitigation and recommendations.

The study used the descriptive analytical approach to describe and analyze data of the study. The study relied on questionnaires, personal interviews, and direct observation as basic data collection tools. The sample of the study consisted of 100 farmers, who randomly selected from 10 villages in the districts of Al-Shamayatain and Al-Ma'afer, in addition to decision makers and directors of government departments in the two districts during the period from 15 November to 15 December 2022.

The results of this study showed that the main source income of 89% of farmers has changed during the last twenty years. The change in income led to a decrease in the income of 97.8% of the farmers. Effects of climate changes such as (water scarcity, deterioration of agricultural land, temperature change), were the most reasons that led to a decrease in farmers' income. 72% of farmers depend on grain production as a main source of income now, 14% depend on animal production (livestock), while 6% depend on vegetable production, 5% on fruit production, and only 3% depend on the production of honeybee products as a main source of income in current time. In addition, 89% of farmers depend on the cultivation of grains as the main crop, 9% of the farmers depend on the cultivation of fruits, while only 2% of the farmers depend on the cultivation of vegetables as the main crop. Where 94% of farmers raised livestock, of whom 47.9% raised cows and sheep together, 39.4% raised sheep only, and 12.8% raised cows only.

The results of the study also, showed that 80% of the farmers reported that drought was the biggest natural disaster that their region was exposed to, followed by rockslides by 12%, and floods by 5%. In addition, 95% of the farmers noticed weather changes in recent years, of whom 40% indicated that the decrease for rain was the most change they noticed, followed by the change in the rainy season by 25.3%, while 17.9% of the farmers indicated that they noticed an increase in summer temperatures. In addition, 67% of the farmers noticed a change in the timing of the agricultural seasons in general, while 54% noticed a change in the weather at the end of the agricultural seasons, and 43% noticed a change in the weather at the beginning of the agricultural seasons. 87% of the farmers believe that natural factors were the most factor that led to changing the timing of the agricultural seasons, while 24% believe that it is due to religious factors, and 12% believe that it is due to human factors. In addition, 96% of farmers reported that changing weather affected agriculture, and 80% of farmers indicated that increasing drought and water crisis were the most effects of changing weather on agriculture, and 76% of farmers reported that low crop productivity was the most effect on agriculture. While 61% of them indicated that changing weather led to spread of agricultural diseases and pests, and 59% reported a decrease in the diversity of agricultural crops, while 55% of farmers indicated that the effects of climate change led to a decrease in the cultivates lands. In addition, 66% of the farmers reported that some agricultural crops have disappeared from their area in recent years, of whom 87.9% reported the disappearance of some grain crops, 10.6% reported the disappearance of some vegetable crops, while 1.5% of them reported the disappearance of fruit crops. In addition, 85% of the farmers reported emergence of some new agricultural crops in recent years, of whom 86.7% reported the emergence of some vegetable crops, while 13.3% of them reported the emergence of some fruit crops. 40% of the farmers noticed a change in the seasons of flowering and fruit ripening for some agricultural crops, of whom 47.5% reported a change in the seasons of ripening of grain crops, 47.5% reported a change in the seasons of ripening of vegetables, while 5% reported a change in the season ripening of fruits. Accordingly, only 25% of the farmers changed their agricultural practices to adapt to climate changes, of whom 76% delayed planting seeds, 16% of them delayed harvesting, while 4% planting seeds prematurely, and 4% changed the method of cultivation.

As for the support of farmers, only 10% of the farmers reported that they received support from civil society organizations and government agencies, of whom 80% supported with seeds and fertilizers, 10% supported with agricultural tools and 10% supported financially. 86% of the farmers stated that the inability to reach supportive organizations was the most obstacle of climate adaptation, while 76% stated that the lack of government support was one of the most obstacles of climate adaptation, 72% reported that lack of awareness about agriculture’s practices was the most obstacle of climate adaptation, and 55% of them reported that the high cost of new practices was one of most obstacles of climate adaptation.

The results of this study also showed that 73% of the farmers suffered from food insecurity (lack of food) due to climate changes, of whom 75.3% carried out new activities to overcome the lack of food, of whom 98.2% did additional work and 1.8% had rent out some of their properties to overcome the lack of food. Only 32% of the farmers heard about climate changes, of whom 75% heard about climate changes from television, 25% heard about climate changes from residents. While only 2% of farmers received awareness from civil society’s organizations about climate changes.

The results of this study also, showed that the local authorities lack awareness of the concept of climate change and its effects on the environment and society, which led to the absence of basic data related to climate change and its effects on the local community. Then lacking of local authorities readiness to deal with climate changes, due to absence of any plans by local authorities, government offices and departments to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.

The results of this study also showed that most families discharge wastewater into the surrounding environment or into the streams and valleys, which causes pollution of the surrounding environment, surface and ground water, the spread of insects, diseases, and epidemics. Residents throw municipal solid waste into the surrounding environment or into streams and valleys, which causes pollution of the surrounding environment, surface and groundwater, the spread of insects, diseases, and epidemics.

Accordingly, the consequences of climate change can be particularly severe and dangerous for vulnerable ecosystems and populations, and may deprive people of their livelihoods and natural resources. Therefore, in order to mitigate these risks, the study recommends the necessity of implementing the following programs and projects:

Projects directed to support local authorities, namely:

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Raise the capabilities of local authorities, government offices and departments on the effects of climate change and the mechanism of preparing plans and strategies that help mitigate the effects of climate change.
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Supporting local authorities, government offices and departments in implementing field surveys that help collect and document accurate data on the effects of climate change on Yemeni society.
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Supporting local authorities in preparing strategies to adapt to climate change at the state level.
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Supporting local authorities in preparing, approving and implementing a disaster response plan that defines the roles and responsibilities of the different departments at each stage of the disaster (before, during and after the disaster) to ensure a smooth and coordinated response.

Projects directed to support stakeholders and society:

- Develop and implement awareness programs on the risks and disasters caused by climate change targeting relevant stakeholders at all levels, including local civil society organizations, trade unions, associations, decision makers, initiatives and individuals, to build their resilience and adaptive capabilities to short and long term to climate change effects.

Projects aimed at supporting farmers and families:

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Implementing awareness programs for farmers about climate change, its effects, and ways to mitigate those effects and adapt to them.
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Implementing agricultural extension programs to help farmers use the most appropriate agricultural practices that help them raise the quality of agricultural products and improve their productivity.
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Implementation of interventions to support farmers with seeds and improved plant seedlings with productive efficiency and high quality.
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Implementing livelihood support interventions and enhancing food security for farmers and poor families by expanding livestock and poultry breeding projects and honeybee breeding.
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Implementing interventions to enhance food security for families through projects using small areas or rooftops to grow basic vegetables to enhance food security and improve community health by providing basic vegetables for those families.
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Implementation of interventions related to mitigating the effects of drought and water scarcity resulting from climatic changes at the level of the governorate, districts, villages, farmers, and community families through the implementation of projects of building dams, water barriers, and harvest rainwater at the level of villages and families to alleviate drought and water scarcity suffered by farmers and society.
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Implementation of drought-related interventions and water scarcity for farmers by supporting them with irrigation networks using sprinkler and drip techniques.
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Implementing interventions related to drought and water scarcity through the implementation of rainwater harvesting projects for farmers by providing them with rainwater harvesting networks and building ponds and rainwater collection tanks.
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Implementation of interventions related to drought and water scarcity through the implementation of projects to support farmers with seeds and plants of high quality and productivity, and the introduction of varieties that need less water and droughtresistant varieties.
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Introducing agricultural techniques, such as greenhouses and hydroponics techniques to some farmers as models for spreading the culture of modern agricultural techniques that help farmers adapt to climate changes and ensure food security for farmers and society.
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Implementation of projects to improve the quality of agricultural soil by supporting projects for the production of bio fertilizers by implementing projects for making bio fertilizers from the biological waste of municipal waste, which represents 60% of the total municipal waste.

Projects directed to support and protect local communities:

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Carrying out geological and environmental studies and surveys that determine the locations of occurrence or possibility of rockslides and develop scientific solutions to stop the occurrence of these landslides or reduce their dangers to the surrounding environment and the surrounding community. Implementation of projects resulting from the recommendations of environmental geological studies to reduce the risks of rockslides.
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Carrying out geological and environmental studies and surveys that determine the locations of occurrence or possibility of landslides resulting from the flow of torrents and develop scientific solutions to stop the occurrence of these drifts or reduce their dangers to the surrounding environment and the surrounding community. In addition, the implementation of projects resulting from the recommendations of environmental geological studies to reduce the risks of landslides resulting from the flow of torrents.
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Carrying out geological and environmental studies and surveys that determine the locations of watersheds and the flow of torrents, and develop scientific solutions to benefit from maps of determining watersheds to reduce their dangers to the surrounding environment and society. In addition, the implementation of dams and water barriers projects resulting from the recommendations of environmental geological studies to benefit from them in ground and surface water recharge.
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Carrying out geological environmental studies or benefiting from previous studies, if any, to choose places for implementing wastewater treatment plants projects and implement those projects to get benefit from wastewater as an important secondary source for use in groundwater recharge and irrigation.
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Implementation of rehabilitation projects for dilapidated drinking water projects in the region.
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Executing projects for the rehabilitation and maintenance of water springs in the region.